Shloka 29

Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay

Devanagari script

देवा ऊचु त्वया जगदिदं सर्व धृतं स्थावरजड्रमम्‌ | एकपत्न्यसि सत्या च गच्छस्व नहुषं प्रति

Transliteration

devā ūcuḥ tvayā jagad idaṁ sarvaṁ dhṛtaṁ sthāvara-jaḍramam | eka-patny asi satyā ca gacchasva nahuṣaṁ prati ||

Translation

ଦେବତାମାନେ କହିଲେ—‘ଦେବୀ! ତୁମେ ହିଁ ଏହି ସମଗ୍ର ଜଗତକୁ—ସ୍ଥାବର ଓ ଜଙ୍ଗମ ସହିତ—ଧାରଣ କରି ରଖିଛ। ତୁମେ ଏକପତ୍ନୀବ୍ରତା ଓ ସତ୍ୟନିଷ୍ଠ; ତେଣୁ ନହୁଷଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ଯାଅ।’

Word by Word

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ऊचुः: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Plural

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: —, Instrumental, Singular

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इदम्: this
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वम्: entire, all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• धृतम्: borne, supported
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• स्थावर-जङ्गमम्: the immobile and the mobile (all beings)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थावर + जङ्गम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• एक-पत्नी: a woman with one husband (faithful wife)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + पत्नी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• असि: you are
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, 2nd, Singular

• सत्या: truthful, true
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• गच्छस्व: go (you should go)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Atmanepada

• नहुषम्: to Nahusha
• नहुषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नहुष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रति: towards, to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• देवाः (the gods)
• नहुष (Nahuṣa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises two dharmic virtues—truthfulness (satya) and exclusive marital fidelity (eka-patnī)—as sustaining forces of order, so powerful that they are described as upholding the world; such virtue earns divine recognition and guidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within Śalya’s narration, the gods address a virtuous woman, commending her truth and single-spouse fidelity, and instruct her to go to Nahuṣa—indicating that her moral authority and purity are pivotal to the next turn of events involving him.